DESPITE torrential rain and gale force winds Gwent residents braved the elements to attend Christmas light switch on events over the weekend.

Thousands of people attended switch on events in Caldicot, Chepstow, Blackwood and Ebbw Vale on Friday and Saturday night.

Despite the determination of organisers, the popular Christmas parade in Pontypool was cancelled on Saturday due to gale force winds

Dancers, bands and singers were due to have paraded through streets for the 25th Pontypool Cavalcade on Saturday.

But the organisers were forced to cancel the cavalcade after the Met Office issued a yellow warning of wind with gusts predicted to reach up to 60mph.

Although the parade was scrapped, the Christmas lights switch-on still went ahead in the evening.

But all the entertainment including live music and children’s activities was moved inside Pontypool Indoor Market.

Pontypool Community Council chairman Bryn Parker turned on the Christmas lights inside the market, with a simultaneous switch-on in the streets at 5pm.

Community council member, Gaynor James, runs a children’s clothes shop inside the market called Individuality.

She said on Saturday: “Everything has been moved inside the market. There is no parade because of the weather, the forecast high winds and the rain.

“It has been very busy inside the market with all the face painting, the carol singing and the brass band.

“It’s been really good, it’s been fabulous. The kids in there have really enjoyed it. It’s like bedlam.”

Groups including the Alison Lee Academy School of Dance, the Dance Stars Academy, and primary schools were all booked for the event.

Cllr James said she did not know if the community council, which organised the event, could recoup the money from the cancelled cavalcade.

She said the parade would have featured a horse drawn carriage, which was coming from Somerset.

The event also featured a fancy dress competition and Santa welcomed children in his grotto inside the market.

Across Gwent many people got into the festive spirit by watching their local lights being switched on.

Caldicot town mayor Dave Evans said more than 2,000 people braved elements to see the Christmas lights turned on on Friday night.

“There was a bit of rain and we did have a heavy storm around 4pm and we thought it was going to ruin the day, but it only lasted for around ten minutes and people supported us very well," he said.

“It was all down to the sponsors who supported us and all the hard work from the event organisers.

“We had 20 stalls there and raised a lot of money for a number of charities.

He added: “Overall I thought it was a successful event and great evening.

“We can only thank the people of Caldicot for supporting us, the shopkeepers for staying open late and everyone else that attended the event."

After a countdown the lights were jointly switched on by Jess Morden, John Griffiths and Dave Evans

Chepstow town mayor Dale Rooke said that despite the fears that the Christmas lights switch on would have to be cancelled due to the predicted high winds and heavy rain, the community rallied together to ensure the event was a great success.

With concerns about the weather affecting the pop-up market, many of the stalls were moved to The White Lion pub's courtyard for protection from the wind.

He praised the town council for organising the day’s proceedings and thanked everyone for attending the ‘action packed day’.

“Everything kind of came together,” he said.

“The community, businesses and town centre staff were so resilient that they managed to pull it off and it was a really good night."

A number of choirs also performed throughout the night, including from Dell Primary School, Chepstow Funk and Soul Band, Chepstow Music and Youth Theatre, Wyedean Gospel Choir, Chepstow Amateur Operatic Society, Chepstow Community Big Band, Chepstow Rock Choir and Chepstow Town Band.

Blackwood got into the festive spirit by holding its light switch on on Saturday night

John Hold, from Blackwood town council, said that despite the poor weather the event was well attended with several hundred people coming to see the lights being switched on.

“We had organised a street dance display with local school children, but unfortunately we had to cancel that as it was hammering down,” he said.

“Despite the weather it was still a great day.”